The cost of being: A retired teacher who’s ‘secure but anxious’ about what lies ahead

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a pensioner with a penchant for oysters explains how he gets by.

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Gender: Male.

Age: 77.

Ethnicity: Pākehā.

Role: Retired secondary chemistry teacher.

Salary/income/assets: $63,000, pension, GSF (Government Superannuation Fund), rental income, and one-third share $900,000 family trust-owned property.

My living location is: Suburban.

Rent/mortgage per week: $200 share expenses partner-owned living house.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: Nil.

Typical weekly food costs

Groceries: $250 between me and partner.

Eating out: $100.

Takeaways: Rarely, $30.

Workday lunches: Nil.

Cafe coffees/snacks: Occasionally $12 or so.

Other food costs: Bluff oysters, $36.

Savings: About $100,000 accumulated for rainy day.

I worry about money: Sometimes.

Three words to describe my financial situation: Secure but anxious about it continuing to be so.

My biggest edible indulgence would be: Bluff oysters.

In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: $50 but decreasing.

In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: Dunno, but $140 to fill the car(!) otherwise Gold Card.

I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: $60.

My most expensive clothing in the past year was: $12 shirt at the op shop.

My last pair of shoes cost: $150 All Birds three years ago.

My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Nil.

My exercise expenditure in a year is about: Nil, how much does walking cost?

My last Friday night cost: $36 for the oysters.

Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: Nil.

Most indulgent purchase (that I don’t regret) in the last 12 months was: 1978 Mini 275GT.

One area where I’m a bit of a tightwad is: Anything that needs money.

Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Prudent, thoughtful and careful tightarse.

I grew up in a house where money was: Tight, and looked after.

The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: Eh?

In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Less able to be as free with it as I choose to be now from time to time.

I would love to have more money for: Travel, nice cars.

Describe your financial low: On the bones of our arse in low-paid jobs in UK 50 years ago without apparent remedies.

I give money away to: Green causes, cancer charities.